All Blacks in quandary over riclomg-trampling

Press, 24 October 1980, Page 24

All Blacks in quandary over riclomg-trampling

From

KEVIN McMENAMIN

in Swansea

With 25 fit players the All Blacks continue to have a charmed run through Wales in terms of injuries, but giving considerable cause for concern is the question of trampling as opposed to rucking. The All Black manager, Mr Ray Harper, admitted yesterday that the forwards had reached the point where they were frightened to ruck as they would in New Zealand because of the fear of giving away penalties for trampling on other players. “Back in New Zealand any player lying over the L .-.11 would be rucked back with it, but over here you can’t do that and the high penalty counts in the two games so far (28 in each) is evidence of this,” said Mr Harper. The team, he said, had discussed the problem at length and had come up with no easy answer. “We don’t want to given penalties away as penalties lose games, but at the moment our choices are limited. The boys feel that

all they can do at rucks is scratch around like old hens.” Mr Harper said he had no complaints about the refereeing, although he was hopeful that John West, the Irish referee who will control the AU Blacks match against Swansea this week-end, would give the All Blacks more latitude to play their traditional game. “John West has con-

trolled games in New Zealand and this problem has not arisen, so, perhaps, he may see things differently.” Harper said that he certainly did not condone trampling and the All Blacks had been told to avoid it. “What we want to do is ruck. It is the interpretation of what consitutes rucking in the United Jngdom that is the problem.” The Graeme Higginson affair at Llanelli was dis-

cussed at yesterday’s team meeting but these discussions would remain confidential, said Mr Harper. He said he accepted that there had been a misunderstanding and so far as he was concerned the matter was closed. No disciplinary action had been taken against Higginsc v Meanwhile the All Black coach, Mr Eric Watson, has given a clue to the

team he has in mind for the centennial test tomorrow week with his side for the S yansea match. ; The backs are much as expected, with Doug Rollersbn being given the opportunity to build on his fine game .against Llanelli and be the test full-back in preference to Brett Codlin,. who is 1 more experienced in the- position. Bruce Robertson and Bill Osborne are again together in the mid-field and this will be Robertson’s

ninety-ninth game for New Zealand, which means that barring injury he will join Colin Meads, lan Kirkpatrick and Bryan Williams in the 100 club before the tour ends. Higginson made little impression as a line-out forward against Llanelli, but his selection ahead of Frank Oliver strongly suggests that he is being groomed as Andy Haden’s locking partner for the test.

The front row has been changed for the first time on the tour and it would seerii that Andy Dalton has been overtaken ,by Hika Reid and. John Ashworth by Rod Ketels In the race for test places. The team to play Swansea is: Doug Roll-' erson; Stuart Wilson, Bruce Robertson, Bernie Fraser, Bill Osborne, Nick Allen;. Dave Loveridge; Murray Mexted, Mark Shaw, Andy Haden, Graeme Higginson, Graham Mourie (captain); Gary Knight, Hika Reid, Rod Ketels.